Coin control unit



Mardi 12, 1940. J. w. sRoDuLsKl `2,193,210

COIN CONTROL UNIT Filed Sept. 20, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l H15 ATToR March 12, 1940. J, w, sRpDULsm 2,193,210

COIN CONTROL UNIT Filed Sept. 20, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VENTOR.

BYMM i 52 HIS ATTORNEY.

March 12, l1940.

J. W` SRODULSKI coIN coNTRoL UNIT Filed Sept. 20, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 /U /.f .Sraduls INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 12, 1940 UNITED STATES a PATENT OFFICE i 2,193,210 com coN'raoL UNIT` Joseph w. smdmski, chicago, `111.

Application September 20, 1937, Serial No. 164,660

4 Claims.

l This invention pertains to coin operated devices and has 'as one of its important objects the provision of a coin control unit for use with various types of vending and service machines adapted for operation upon the insertion therein of a proper coin or check.

It is a further object to provide a compact control unit including a manual operating lever, a drive member, and an overload clutch between the manual member and operating member to prevent forcing the device.

It is a furtherobject to provide novel latching means in such a control unit and adapted to lock the operating member or plate against movement. Y

It is another o cooperable with the latching means to freey the operating or driving plate for movement by the manual operating lever.

It is another object to provide means for maintaining the latching mechanism in released condition until a full stroke of the operating lever is made. p

Still another object is the provision of a combination coin elevator and secondary locking means adapted to receive approved coins `or checks from the main selector and release certain secondary or auxiliary latching mechanism and elevate the approved check or coin for further selective disposition.

Yet another object is the provision of improved scavenger means disposed between the coin entrance opening and the principal selector for trapping debris such as match sticks, cardboard wafers, etc., the scavenger being further adapted to obviate the gathering of grease and other forms of soil which tend to accumulate from the continuous passage of coils and tokens.

Additional objects and novel features of construction and operation of the improved control unit will appear as the following description develops in view of the drawings in' which:

Fig. l is aside elevation of the complete unit showing the mounting head and side plate;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view with part of the mounting head cut away and is taken along the irregular line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical elevation through the unit along the irregular line 3-3 of Fig. Z, showing the opposite side of the side plate of Fig. l in elevation;

bject to provide a control adapted for use with a coin or check selector` the mounting head along lines 4-4 of Fig. 2` and showing the overload clutch in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the unit looking in the direction of` lines 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the unit as viewed in the direction of lines 6-6 of Fig. 2, showing particularly `portions of the scavenger, selector unit and coin elevating means;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section viewing the coin elevating means from the rear along lines 1 1 of Fig. 6; 1

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front vertical section through the mounting head and clutch as seen along the irregular line 8-8 of Fig. 6; n

Fig. `9 is a vertical median section through th scavenger as taken along lines 9-9 of Fig. 2; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section through the main selector and selective coin passages therefrom, as viewedin the direction of lines Ill-I0 of Fig. 6; i

Fig. 11 is an angular section through the scavenger along lines II--I I of Fig. 6.

:The improved control unit, which is the subject of the present invention, is intended foruse on vending machines, automatic phonographs, amusement apparatus, and in fact any type of device which may be operated by a coin control. The novel unit, moreover, is intended for use with a variety of coin and token selecting devices, and is especially suited for use with a type of selector or tester described and claimed in United States Patent 2,073,392 for improvements in an Adjustable check testing apparatus. This latter type of selector, it` may be observed, may be utilized to test and select coins having a predetermined surface configuration, such as the buffalo nickel, and in addition will pass certain type of checks or tokens, While rejecting other coin elements for which it is not adjusted. It is to be understood that other forms of testing device may be used, the invention being of especial utility where the testing device will accept both coins and tokens of predetermined character. y

As viewed in Fig. 1 herein, the present control unit in one of its preferred forms, includes a mounting head or casing I4 having a hollow protuberance or are I5 and a marginal mounting flange I6 adapted to t ush against a cabinet structure or the like. In the upper region of the protuberance (Fig. 6) there is provided a coin entrance I1 into which a coin is depositedl for transit through a scavenger later to be described, and into the principal selector for testing it. i

.y means such as the screws 22 and providing ral principal support for the operating or drive pla-te Extending across the hollow portion of the mounting head (Figs. 2, 6 and 8) is a handle shaft I5 seated in suitable bosses formed in the casting and having an end portion attached by pin means with an operating lever I 9. Keyed to the handle shaft I8 within the mounting head is an overload clutch generally indicated at 2li and of especial design to be described hereafter in detail.

A side plate or section 2l (Figs. 1 and 3, particularly) is extended from within the mounting head, being removably attached to the latter by and part of the latching mechanism.

This side plate 2l has a lower laterally curved` apron 23 (Fig. 8) which inclincs toward the op- I posite side of the mounting head and terminates opposite a small integral wall formation 24 'exl tending from the opposite side of the mounting head in such manner as to provide a reject coin passage 25 descending toward the 'lower front portion of the mounting head and terminating in a small reject cup or chamber 26 accessible through a front opening 2l to the operator, so that he may retrieve rejected coins therefrom.

The principal operating member, which is actuated by the handle i9 when the proper coin is deposited, is termed for convenience'herein a drive or operating plate 28 slidably mounted on the inner surface of the side wall plate 2i (Fig. 3) and having a rearward nose or extension 29 adapted for operative engagement with some instrumentality under the control ofthe unit, such for example as a merchandise dispensing contro f or operating lever. i

The drive plate 28 is `provided with two horizontally extensive and parallel slots 30 and 3|, and through which protrude offset'riding studs 32 and 33 respectively, there being a stud shaft 34 extended through the upper slot from the side plate across to the coin chute or elevator and serving not only as a partial support vfor the latter and a partial sliding support for the drive plate, but also as amounting shaft for part of the coin elevating mechanism hereinafter to be described.

Along its upper edge the drive plate has an ear 35 on which is hooked one end of a spring 36 secured at its opposite end to an ear 31 on the side wall plate 2l, this spring being adapted to urge the drive plate (toward the right, Fig. 3) into a normal position.

At the right-hand extremity of the drive plate is a lateral flange 3B (Figs. 3 and 4) normally bearing against a roller 39 carried on an arm of a member of the clutch unit 26, such that when the lever I9 is depressed upon deposit of a proper coin, the clutch roller 39 will urge the drive plate toward the left against the tension of spring 36.

Along its lower edge the drive plate 28 has a number of spaced not-ches l0-6I and smaller intervening notches 42 for engagement by a full stroke dog t3 having a safety latch operating extension `or arm 44, the purposes of which will later appear. The full stroke dog 43 is normally positioned Vby a spring 45, as seen in Fig. 3, and, in addition tojother functions, prevents return movement of the drive plate until the latter has made a complete operating stroke toward the left. As the plate shifts toward the left, the shorter arm of the dog 43 pivots in an anticlockwise sense, its nose riding into the smaller slots l2 which are too shallow to permit the dog to pivot clockwise if an attempt be made to restore the slide before the full stroke has been made; however, when the full stroke is made the smaller` arm of the dog 43 will ride into the terminal slot 4&3 which is large enough to permit the dog to pivot in either direction. Upon the return stroke, the dog will ride in and out of the notches 132 but pivoting in a clockwise sense until it reaches the opposite end slot l I.

Pivotally mounted on a lateral ear 46 on the side plate '2l is the main latch dog 4l having an end portion 48 normally protruding through a -slot in the side wall plate (Figs. 1, 3 and 5) and of movement of an edge portion 5I) of the drive .plate so v.as to prevent movement of the latter completely toward the left, there being, however, normally a space between the edge 5@ and ythe locking dog so that the drive plate may be reciprocated a limited amount in its idle stroke movement for operation of certain selector mechanism which includes a vertically reciprocable selecting operating arm 5I having an elongated slot 52 slidably embracing a stud 53 on the side wafllplateA 2! and having a cam roller stud 5t at its upper end (Figs. l and 3), which roller is disposed in an arcuate cam slot 55 extending upwardly from the'lower horizontal riding slot SI inthe drive plate in such manner that when the latter is moved toward theleft the roller 5d is canimed downwardly and will operate certain selecting or testing mechanism shortly to be described. The stud roller 5t protrudes through a vertically extensive opening S8 in the plate 2l to limit the movement of the reciprocable arm 5I.

An idle guide arm 5t is attached at its left-hand end to the reciprocating arm 5I and the roller means 54 thereon and at its opposite end to the guiding or riding stud 33 and serves to elect linear movement of the operating arm 5 I when the same is cammed by movement of the drive plate.

In the' present embodiment a selector or testing cartridge or unit 51 is installed in the central region of the control unit and is of the type shown in Fig. l1 of the United States patent hereinbefore mentioned, and this unit includes a depending and vertically reciprocable operating .arm 58 (Fig. 5 herein; also identied at 65 in Fig. 1l of the aforesaid patent), and this opj erating member 58 is connected by a pin 59 to a lower portion of the operating arm 5I in such manner that when the drive plate 28 is reciprocated the selector operating arm 58 is likewise reciprocated, and it should be observed that the idle stroke movement of the drive plate is sufiicient to actuate the testing device so that a previously deposited coin will be approved or rejected by the selector and caused to pass therefrom toward the reject passage 25 or the elevator passage 6l) (Fig. 10) depending upon which way a pivoted selector element or gate 62a in the testing device 5l moves the coin after performing its testing operation.

The main latch dog il has a lateral pin 6I (Fig. 3) which extends into the testing unit 5l and there engages a trip arm 62, which is released and moved by the testing mechanism (When a proper coin or special check is receive-d inthe latter) responsive to the movement of the operating member 58 of the testing unit, and is eiective to pivot the dog il toward the left into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5 so as to dispose the ear 49 on the dog out of the pathof movement of the edge portion 5t on the drive plate (Fig. 3), thus permitting the latterfto continue toward its full stroke position'. Y

In addition to the fuustroke dog `43 (Fig. 3

ment by the arm 44 on the full stroke dog I3` when the latter is pivoted in a clockwise direction upon the return movement of the drive plate after the upper end of the dog has moved into the notch 40 on the. plate in such manner that the safety latch is pivoted in an anti-clockwise direction (Fig. l) so as to raise thelatching end 63 thereof out of the way'of the end 48 of the main latching dog 41.

Normally the safety latch is positioned by gravity as seen in Fig. l, with the arm 63 bearing down againstfthe angled edge 48 of the dog 41 so as to fall into. latching position in a notch 48. formed in the dog between the end portion 48 and the ear 49, so that once the latch dog has been pivoted into released .or non-blocking position by operation of the testing mechanism,` the safety or full stroke latch 63 falls by gravity into. the notch 48 and will prevent return movement of the main dog into latching position until the drive plate has made its full stroke and the full stroke dog 43` (Fig. 3) is pivoted in a clockwise direction by the return movement of the vdrive plate. This return movement'causes the arm `lll of the full stroke dog to engage the lower offset end 65 of the full stroke arm so as to pivot the latter in an anti-clockwise direction (Fig. 1) and position the same completely out'of the path of the dog 41 so that the latter may return `to its normal latching position. 'A guide `bracket 61 (Fig. 1) guides the movement of Vthe arm 63 relative to the dog `41. 1 f

A secondary testing or selecting means is `provided in the form of a vertical chute (i)` (Figsj l, 5 and 6) having communication at its lower end with the coin passage 60 into which coins are discharged from the testing device 51. This vertical chute 69 `provides Aa path of determined length having a discharge opening 18 at its'upper end for checks or tokens and a selecting kick-out opening 1l between its ends and below the top discharge opening or terminal 10. This secondary selecting mechanism includes coin elevating means in the form of a vertically reciprocable'elevator rod 12 (Figs. l and 'l particularly) pivotally attached as at 13 (Figs. 3 land 5) 'fi-tits upper end to an eccentric portion of a rocker or yoke 14 which in turn is pivotally mounted von a cross stud 34 which extends from one end laterally of the side plate 2l `and at its opposite end is attached by means of the screw 34 to the upper end of the secondary chute member `(if). The yoke member 14 has its yoke or bifurcated portion 15 embracing a lateral stud 18 attached to the drive plate 28. Thus, when the drive plate is reciprocated, the elevating rod 12 will likewise be reciprocated through the rocking action of.

the yoke 14. y i

At its lower end the elevating member 12 has an offset lateral extension 11 (Fig. 7) .in a corner of which is provided a coin engaging notch A18 adapted to fit againstithe lower edge of a coin received in the chute passage from the discharge chute G0. This lateral extension ridesina ver-v tical slot 19 formed in the side of the chute, and

the pivotal mounting 13 at ltheupper end of the.

rod 12 is sufficiently loose to permit sidewise play of the rod in a direction to dispose the extension 11 inwardly and outwardly of the vertical slot 19.` A spring urged presser arm 88 movable on a` l pin 8l bears against the lower portion of the rod of the rod 12 partially out of the chute, leaving,`

however, enough ci theextension 11 therein to engage a coin, should one enter the chute. A second or blocking cam lug' 84 extends from the side of the chute above the lower cam lug82, and if there is no coin resting `on the coin re` ceiving notch 18, the idle stroke movement' of the drive plate will move the .elevator rod 12 upwardly a distance suicient to cause the lower end portion of the rod to disengage the lower cam lug 82, whereupon the presser arm 88 will. urge the elevator rod toward the chute so that a` lateral extension 83 yformed on the rod 12 abuts the upper cam member 84 and thus prevents further upward movement of the elevating lrod and consequently further movement of the drive plate. Thus, there is afforded a second latching mechanism which would bey effective to prevent operation of the control even though the selector or tester 51 were omitted. i

When a proper coin is discharged from the testing device 51 into the chute El), such coin will rest in the notch 18 on the elevator rod extension, and this notch is of a .depth calculated to hold the elevator rod. 12' outwardly of the chute against the spring 8l) as the rod moves upwardly in such manner that the projecting stop finger` 83 on the rod will miss the upper blocking lug 84 so that the extension 11 Vis substantially wholly withdrawn from the chute passage. When such a coin has been elevated toa predetermined position, a spring presser finger 85 (Figs. 6 and 7) 84 and cause the linger to ride on a cam portion on the opposite side of the chute will project its y nose portion beneath the coin and prevent its dropping down when the elevator recedes. Thus,

the coins may be moved in step by. step fashion toward the upper end of the chute, those of a i vator extension'll, it being apparentthat should i a coin' be too thin, the rod 12 would not be wedged p outwardly far eno-ugh to miss the upper blocking lug 84. A further advantagein the arrangement of the secondary selector and elevator `resides in the fact that the unit is rendered more compact for certain types of installation where thespace intowhich the unit fits is of' a depth substantially equal `to the height of the unit, so that coin receiving `drawers may be arranged between the limits of this depth, certain coins discharging from` substantially` the central region of vthe vertical chute passage so thatthey may gravitate into one receptacle, while other checks discharge-,from the tcp of the chute and likewise may gravitate into another receptacle.

, A novel form of scavenger is utilized to conduct the deposited-coins from the entrance opening Il into the receiving opening 5l of the primary or main selector. The scavenger includes a pair of complementary side plates t6 and 8'! (Figs. 2, 6, 9 and l1), each havingan outwardly flared lip 88 at its upward end positioned below the deposit opening |'i. The plate `ili is stationary and atn y ta'ched to the unit structure byv an oifset ear 89 and Vbolt means therefor. The plate 05 alsa has an edge "portion bent over at right angles to provide a mounting flange 9.9 with upset ears 9| providing a mounting for the companion plate 8l, the latter having a pair of spaced offset ears 92 aligned with the ears il! and through all of whichis passed a pin 93 .providing the pivotal axis for the companion or movable scavenger plate 8i.

The plate 86 has a pair of spaced parallel ribs 94 disposed and spaced substantially away from the locus of the center of a coin moving downwardly onoifset ledge 95 on the companion plate, while this latter or companion plate has a single rib 96 disposed parallel to and between the ribs 94 and extending substantially along the locus of the center of a descending coin. This arrangement of ribs assures that a deposited coin will always traverse the scavenger and reach vthe v testing device 5l regardless of the possible collection of soil on the sides of the scavenger plates, it being commonly known that such soil tends to collecton the sides of chute passages as a result of the continuous movement of coins therein and can obstruct the free movement of the coins. This latter arrangement of ribs, however,.obviates operating troubles from this source.

The movable or companion scavenger plate 81 is normally disposed by gravity with the coin ledge or flange 95 close against the stationary plate. In order to open the scavenger there is provided a push button 91 (Figs. 2 and 6) in a side of the casing head I5 and having an inner end portion adapted to bear against an ear 91 on the movable scavenger plate '81, such that when the button is pushed inwardly the movable scavenger plate is pivoted away from the stationary plate, and debris, such as match sticks, paper, defective coin elements, and the like, will gravitate therefrom downwardly over the inclined apron portion 23 and into the reject opening 2B, the scavenger again gravitating into closed position when the button Q'I is released.

In order to prevent fraudulent operation of the device by forcing the handle I9, there is provided a novel overload clutch 20 shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 8. This clutch includes a substantially annular plate 98 (Fig. 4) having a collar 99 movably embracing handle shaft I8. On a depending ear of this floating clutch member is the roller 39 which engages the lateral offset 38 on the drive plate to move the latter.

Pivotally mounted as` at on the floating plate or disc SB is a yoke arm |0| having its opposite free end |02 disposed substantially oppo site the pivotal mounting |00 thereof and both the latter and the end |02 lying along a diameter through the shaft I8 and plate 98. A spring |03 has one end attached to an offset ear |04 on'the free end |02 of the yoke, the other end of this spring being anchored on an ear struck up from the iioating plate 98. Thus, the yoke arm arsenic |00 is urged inan anticlockwise direction' as seen in Fig. 4, `this movement being limited by means of a pin |06 anchored in the plate 98 and riding in an arcuate slot |01 in the arm IUI.

Formed between the ends of the yoke member |0| is an inwardly extending lug I having a graduated and substantially circumferentially extending edge |09 which is normally seated in a complementary slot ||0 formed in a driven annulus 'keyed for rotation with the handle shaft I8 by means of a collar ||2 (Fig. 8) having a reduced and squared shoulder H8 which ts into a correspondingly squared opening in the annulus so that the latter of necessity must turn with the .collar H2, the latter turning with the shaft I8 by virtue of a pin I I4 extending through the same-into the shaft.

An examination of Fig. 4 will disclose that if a force is applied to the lever I9 to move the latter downwardly (clockwise), the shaft I3 will rotate the moving disc or annulus I I and cause the side portion IIE to bear against the yoke lug |09. The slot edge I I 5 has a very slight camming slant and when adequate force is applied to the lever Is, the camming engagement of the moving disc with the yoke lug wili urge the yoke against the tension of spring W3 and cause the withdrawal of the yoke lug from the slot HQ, so that the handle and shaft will suddenly be freed from the resistance of the floating clutch member in the `bearing engagement of its roller 3Q against the drive plate, and the latter can in no way be injured or forced against its latching means. As soon as the handle IS is restored to the normal position of Fig. 4, the spring |03 will again cause the yoke lug |09 to slip back into the notch I|0 in the moving clutch disc.

The novel control unit will thus appear to provide a manual operating lever and a driven mem ber or plate with an overload clutch interposed between the handle and` plate, together with detent latching means for preventing the normal movement of the plate by the handle member, this detent means being released by operation of a primary coin testing device, and there further being provided a secondary selecting mechanism and a latch rod and elevator for preventing movement of the driven plate unless a coin of predetermined character is received from the primary selector. unlatching the drive plate also moves the coins or checks along a determined path provided by the chute and causes coins of one kind to be discharged at one point, and coins of another kind to be discharged at a diiferent point. In

addition, the invention provides a unitary structure including a casing head of novel construction, an improved form of scavenger for conducting coins from the casing head to the primary selector, and a novel form of overload clutch.

Operation In operating the device, a coin or token may be inserted through the coin depository I'I (Figs- 6 and 8), whereupon the handle I9 is pulled. downwardly, causing the roller 39 (Fig. 3) to bear against the lateral flange 38 on the main drive plate 28, thus urging the latter toward the left. It may be remarked here that the driving connection between the handle It and the roller 33 is effected through the overload clutch mech-` anism generallly indicated at 20 (Fig. 4).

As the drive plate 28 shifts to the left, the cam edge portion 5'5 of the lower horizontal slot 3| bears down on the roller 54, depressing the The secondary selector in addition to Whlefthe novel rfeatures of the control unit rod 5l and consequently `depressing the test operating rod 58 so! as to actuate the primary testing means 51.

If the coin be a proper one, the testing device will causethe dog 41 to pivot outwardly or to the left (Fig. 5) through connectionof the pin means 6l from the testing device with the `short offset arm portion of the dog 41. When the dog 41 moves to the left as aforesaid, the ear i9 thereof is removed from the path of the lower edge 5B of the main drive plate (Figs. 3 and 5) so that the latter may continue its operative movement under urgence of the handle` I9, and at substantially the same time the safety latch dog t3 (Fig. l) drops to block the portion 48' of the dog 41 to prevent return of the latter to latching position until the drive plate has made its full inward or operating stroke.

There is sulcient idle stroke or free play movement in the main drive plate mechanism for operation of the primary testing arm 5| and ithe operation of the testing device 51 is so `rapid that by the time the testing operation is complete and the coin either rejected or accepted, the coin, if it be accepted, will have gravitated down the short ramp 60 (Fig. 6) and onto the notched elevator ear 18 (Fig. '1) so that continued operation of the handle I9 will effect a raising movement of the elevator and, `assuming the coin to be of a proper thickness so as to cam the elevator rod outwardly to permit the lug 83 to miss the stopping lug 84 (Fig. 1), the drive plate may make a complete inward movement due to the release of the latch dog 41 and the release and upward movement of the elevator, the latter having a lconnection through the yoke 14 (Fig. 3) and a pinI 16 on the drive plate to block movement of the latter in the event the elevator is not raised.

Thus, `the primary and l secondary testing means are released by the same coin, which is effective to permit free movement ofthe drivey plate completely to the left.

When the drive plate moves toward the left as aforesaid, the full stroke dog 43 (Fig. 3) will pivot in an anticlockwise direction and ride in, and

out of the smaller notches 42 until the larger right-hand release notch 4U is reached andthe drive plate starts back to normal position under urgence of the spring 36. This latter movement causes the dog 43 to pivot in a clockwise direction in and out of the smaller notches 42' so as to cause the lower arm 44 thereof to bear against the offset ear 65 of the safety latch 63 (Fig. 1 also) and pivot the latter out of blocking position relative to the main latch arm 41, thus permitting the latter to be restored to its latching position for instant engagement with thev 'coins and also with special tokens, the tokens having a diameter different from that of the coins and coin elements raised by the elevator passing out the upper vmouth 1|l of the` chute if they are of one diameter, while the coin elements of less diameter are separated out by passing through the sidewise .discharge opening 1| under urgence of the presser finger 85'.

have been described herein with particularity, it lto -beunderstood that various changes may be eectedin lthe'same -without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the appended claims are intended toinclude `within their scope al1 forms of modification, rearrangement and the like fairly coming Within thespirit of the invention. f

. YE-Iaving `thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patentis:

1. -A latching and coin selecting attachment for use with coin-freed control Idevices havingv operating mechanism, said attachment including a body providing a coin passage having a receiving end and a discharge end and a sidewise dropout opening -between said ends and through which coins of less than a determined diameter may pass, a coin moving member mounted on said body for reciprocable movement relative to the ends of the passage and also for movement laterally thereof and having a blocking formation and an offset extension projecting into said passage near an end tnereof,.said onset extension having a notch for engaging a coin along its edge and anadjoining `side of the coin Wherebysaid rod may be moved laterally of the passage dependent on the thickness of the coin so engaged, spring means normally urging said coin `Inoving member and extension toward the passage,

cam means engaged by said coin moving memi ber in its normal position to move said extension in a direction out of the passage for engagement of a coin in said notch, and blocking means arranged on said body and effective to engage said blocking 'formation to prevent effective movement of said coin moving member unless the same is moved outwardly of said passage by a coin in said notch portion a distance sufficient for said extension to clear said blocking formation, said coin moving member being arranged for reciprocation by said operating mechanism.

'2. Selector mechanism for coin-controlledy devices, said mechanism including a body providing a coin passage havingreceiving and discharge ends and a drop-out opening of determined width between said ends, yieldable ringer means extending into said passage for preventing movement of coins toward said receiving, end, and a reciprocable coin shifter on said body and having an extension projecting into said passage to engage a coin at said receiving end, a blocking member on said body and normally engaged by means on said shifter to prevent effective movelment thereof, said shifter extension being arranged to engage the side portion of a coin at said receiving end to move said shifter for clearance of said blocking member to permit eliective movement of the shifter, the latter being' adapted for operative reciprocaton by operating means in said coin-controlled device.

3. A coin selecting device including means `providing a coin passage having an entrance and an exit and a discharge opening therebetween and through which a coin element of certain size moving along said passage may pass before reaching said exit, mechanism operable to move coin elements in series from said entrance toward said exit, means `normally blocking effective movement of said coin moving mechanism, said coin moving mechanism including coin-engag-- ing means arranged to shift said coin moving mechanism so that it will not engage said blockme Ineens when e Coin. element engaged thereby is of a certain size.

4. Mechanism for testing and selecting coin elements according to size, said mechanism comprising means providing a 4coin passage having an entrance and a plurality of exits toward` which coin elements are moved in series from said entrance, a coinv moving member mounted for movement back and forth in a direction from said entrance toward said exits` and( also for shifting' movement in a direction laterally of said pas,- sage, means yieldingly urging said coin moving member laterally toward said passage, means limiting the movement of the coin moving mem.-

ber toward said passage so as to leave a space in which a coin element may lodge between the coin moving member and the passage, means providing a blocking member engaged by said 

